Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0189, 1946-01-21.

Summary:

Coal production has gradually increased since December. Some people suggest that permanent measures should he taken for coal production and that at the same time price control should he withdrawn. The current price of coal was fixed by the Emergency Commodity Price Principles (KINKYU BUKKA TAISAKU YOKO) decided upon in 1943. Any losses brought about by changes in market price have hitherto been made up by the Government. As for the price of coal, Dr. COLLINS, adviser to the Allied Headquarters, suggested that the selling price should be raised so as to be more in accord with high production costs and also to stimulate producers' zeal. The reopening of the question of coal prices, as a permanent policy for coal production, has been coming to the fore.

The selling price of coal now in effect should be freed from any governmental control. An agreed standard price should be fixed instead.

Judging from its financial sources, the Government coal indemnity is not fully reserved. The Allied Headquarters do not always seem to be agreeable to any form of indemnity. The selling price of coal should be adjusted, when price control is abolished, to production costs. The JAPAN Coal Company (NIPPON SEKITAN KAISHA), the only coal selling organization, should be paid a commission in proportion to the amount of coal sold. In this case, the control of distribution will be continued for the time being.

The Government, consequently, need not collect a large indemnity from the national income, which is expected to decrease. Coal production, on the other hand, will be rapidly increased, since prices at each mine will be made equal. Coal costs, at present, some 350 yen per ton to produce in the worst mines and. over l60 yen in the best ones. When the standard price is to be fixed, production costs will be reckoned on a basis of 200 to 250 yen per ton as Dr. COLLINS suggested.

When the Government indemnity has been abolished and production cost exceeds the agreed standard price, some coal mines will be obliged to suspend production. But, such a small obstacle will not affect the coal production as a whole. The agreed standard price will come into effect from the beginning of the 1946 fiscal year. There are, however, two contrary opinions. One maintains that the standard price system will bring confusion to the supply and demand relationship under the present monthly coal production of less than one million tons. The other asserts that the standard price is not suitable because the coal production cost is cheaper in HOKKAIDO. Three different coal prices should be fixed in KYUSYU, JOBAN, and. HOKKAIDO.

ECONOMIC SERIES: 189 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

According to the explanation given at the recent session of the Diet by Minister of Commerce and Industry, OGASAWARA, the estimated coal production for the latter half of the 1945 fiscal year was 5,000,000 tons; 25 million for 1946; 30 million for 1947; and 35 million tons for l948, totalling 95 million tons. The Minister also declared that the Government indemnity of coal will be abolished at the end of the 1948 fiscal year. The indemnity calculated on the newly revised coal prices will aggregate 100 billion yen by the end of the same year. This amount will reach 12 to 13 billion yen, because of the high cost of production and inflation booms.

Opinions in favor of abolishing the compensation system are now current among coal mining industrialists. They hold that, even if the indemnity is abolished, there is no fear that the withdrawal of indemnity will affect the daily life of the nation. That is to say, the consumers can stand such a burden. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that the price of coal would be raised from 20.13 yen to 85 yen per ton. This measure however, will result in the rise of the prices of pulp, artificial silk, and paper by 10 per cent only. Even the charges for gas, which is important in domestic life, will be raised from 13 sen to some 32 sen per cubic meter. In view of these facts, a raise of the price of coal to some 250 yen, about three times the current price, will not be a serious threat to national life. Compared with black market coal which is now quoted at 500 to 1,000 yen, the revised price of 250 yen is far cheaper. The more coal there is produced, the cheaper the price of coal will become. Therefore, price readjustment policies in connection with the increase of coal production are earnestly advocated.

Full Translation:

The Government on 20 January promulgated, effective the same day, our order of enforcement of the Detailed Regulations of the Revised Agrarian Community Law, which was approved by the last extraordinary Diet session. According to this law the directors (hitherto call presidents) of the Agricultural Associations of cities, towns, and villages will be elected, by the farmers and not appointed by the Prefectural Governors. Likewise the directors of the Agricultural associations will be elected by the Representative Councils of cities, towns, and villages instead of being appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. The director of the National Agricultural association will be elected at the general meeting of the prefectural representatives. Thus the way has been opened for the complete democratization of the personnel of corporations which have often been censured being as bureaucratic, and also for independent co-operative activities.

The time for the election of these directors will be appointed by a special order of the Ministry of Agriculture end Forestry. It is expected that it will take place at the earliest possible opportunity and that it will be some time around the beginning of March. The elections will be held in this order: City, town, village associations, prefectural associations, and the National Associations. They are expected to be finished by the end of March.

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 180 (Continued)

Full Translation:

The conference for improvement of the treatment of TOKYO metropolitan workers (TOKYOTO SHOKUIN TAIGU KAIZEN KYOGIKAI) was held, on the 18th and 19th in a council room of the Metropolitan Office. Almost all the demands proposed last year by 7,200 metropolitan workers were acceded to at the conference. A wage increase of 200 per cent as of February was decided on. Thus, the problem of improved treatment for lower grade workers in the metropolis has been settled amicably. The following decisions were made:

• l.The salary, which includes a war time diligence allowance and extra allowances, will be raised 200 per cent. When the salary raised is less than five yen for men and four yen for women, it will be made up to whose amounts.
• 2.The [illegible]ligerce allowance will he paid as before. Besides, the equivalent of twice the amount of this allowance will be paid in other allowances.
• 3.Allowances for family and dwelling will be increased 300 per cent. But the allowance for separate house will be abolished [illegible]Other allowances will be paid [illegible]al to the total amount of all present allowances. For [illegible]who [illegible]ge in contract work, allowances will be [illegible] [illegible]tely. An [illegible]price allowance will not be give[illegible].
• 4.As to the distribution of the nec[illegible]aties of life, the authorities will make an endeavor to make loans and gives access to faclli[illegible]s of the Metropolitan Office. Moreover, they will make positive plans for housing and other welfare work.

The employees, while acknowledge[illegible]these decisions; expressed the hope that there would also be an improvement in the near future in the treatment of temporary workers along the same lines. If it is realized, men will receive about 400 yen and women about on 300 hen. This will bring a burden of 30,000,000 yen a year on the finances of the metropolis. As a measure to cover this, the metropolitan authorities will mainly resort to government subsidies and renewal of bonds. Authorities are also expected to double water charges around April.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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